Leona Helmsley, dubbed “Queen of Mean” by the media, died last week. In her will, the hotel magnate left $12 million for the care of her dog,Trouble, who will be buried near her in her mausoleum. She left nothing to two of her four grandchildren, citing “the reasons which are known to them”.
Helmsley was not known for her compassion or generosity. Yet, she gave millions to charities, and bequeathed most of her estimated $4 billion estate to her charitable trust, which was set up in 1999 to benefit religious or educational causes, groups that work to protect children and other charities.
Logic doesn't rule when it comes to wills. Her thinking may have been simple: My dog loves me, is good to me, I feel appreciated and loved. Two of my grandchildren treat me badly. They don’t deserve anything. I’ll leave money for the other two.” Unless the grandchildren provide more details about their relationship with their grandmother, we’re not likely to know Helmsley’s real reason for disinheriting them.
But consider this: Of all the countries in the world, only England and the United States give parents ‘testamentary freedom’ – the right to designate who shall inherit their estate.
That means children and grandchildren are not automatically entitled to any portion of their parents’ estate. They receive an inheritance because parents choose to leave it to them. Inheritance lies not in the blood line, but in the heart.
Why are people so upset that Helmsley left millions to Trouble? Obviously, she got more pleasure, companionship and affection from her dog than from her children or grandchildren. Sad, selfish, eccentric, mean spirited, but hey, this is America and it's her money.
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